A Week Later, Officials Struggle to Reach Hotspots at Jatiwaringin Landfill

Seven days after a fire broke out at the Jatiwaringin landfill in Mauk, Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia, joint forces are still facing significant challenges in containing the blaze. Strong winds and the presence of methane gas beneath the trash heaps are exacerbating the situation, making it difficult to reach the remaining hotspots.

Bupati Tangerang, Maesyal Rasyid, explained that the wind, currently blowing westward, is causing embers to reignite in several areas. The underlying methane gas contributes to the smoke, creating a persistent problem. "The wind is currently blowing to the west. In the western area, there are several fire hotspots because the wind is quite strong, and the methane gas underneath is emerging, causing smoke there," Maesyal stated on Monday evening.

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The wind is currently blowing to the west. In the western area, there are several fire hotspots because the wind is quite strong, and the methane gas underneath is emerging, causing smoke there.

The challenging terrain of the landfill itself presents another major obstacle. Head of the Tangerang Environmental and Hygiene Agency (DLHK), Ujat Sudrajat, described the unstable and mountainous structure of the trash piles as a significant difficulty for the firefighting personnel. "The difficulty is indeed with the trash inside, which is easily penetrated. If your foot goes in, the area might be hollow inside, so it's dangerous for officers when passing through it," Ujat said.

As of Monday night, approximately 3.6 percent of the total 18 hectares affected by the fire still showed signs of burning. Despite the visible flames diminishing in some areas, the temperature beneath the surface remains high, indicating a potential for reignition. Firefighters and Manggala Agni personnel are employing ground-based methods, injecting water into the subsurface and using fire retardants mixed with water to suppress the oxygen fueling the fire. Additionally, three water-bombing helicopters have been deployed to douse the active areas from the air.

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The difficulty is indeed with the trash inside, which is easily penetrated. If your foot goes in, the area might be hollow inside, so it's dangerous for officers when passing through it.